Russia Continues Fighting , for Control of Ukraine's , Donbas Region.<br />According to 'Newsweek,' mixed reports <br />are coming out of Ukraine regarding Russia's <br />recent military operation in Soledar.<br />On January 11, Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko <br />told the 'Kyiv Independent' that Russia had failed to <br />take over Soledar, located to the south of Bakhmut.<br />On January 11, Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko <br />told the 'Kyiv Independent' that Russia had failed to <br />take over Soledar, located to the south of Bakhmut.<br />Two days earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky <br />said that the city saw carnage on both sides <br />and claimed that there was "almost no life left.".<br />Two days earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky <br />said that the city saw carnage on both sides <br />and claimed that there was "almost no life left.".<br />However, on January 10, an intelligence report published <br />by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MOD) said <br />that Russia was "likely in control" of most of Soledar.<br />The mixed reports come <br />after four days of fierce <br />fighting in the Donbas city.<br />This is one of the best defense strongholds <br />that Ukraine has along all fronts; it was built <br />up in the course of the 2014 Donbas war. , Mikhail Alexseev, political science professor <br />at San Diego State University, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Control over Bakhmut gives Russia access <br />to more rapid mass advances, particularly <br />toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk—the latter <br />being an important industrial center, Mikhail Alexseev, political science professor <br />at San Diego State University, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Control over Bakhmut gives Russia access <br />to more rapid mass advances, particularly <br />toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk—the latter <br />being an important industrial center, Mikhail Alexseev, political science professor <br />at San Diego State University, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Russia's Ministry of Defense has <br />denied that Soledar has been taken over, <br />adding that "fighting is ongoing.".<br />Overall, these operations indicate <br />that the Kremlin intends to keep <br />fighting and keep gaining advantages <br />with the force of numbers, Mikhail Alexseev, political science professor <br />at San Diego State University, via 'Newsweek'.<br />This is the kind of strategy that <br />the Kremlin could see lasting many <br />months, if not years, whereby it retains <br />the already occupied territories <br />and keeps slowly occupying new ones, Mikhail Alexseev, political science professor <br />at San Diego State University, via 'Newsweek'
